Kudos to Barry Hummel, recent guest columnist. I wholeheartedly support banning smoking in our parks, and I have firsthand knowledge of the carelessness and insensitivity of smokers.

I am a member of the AT&T Telecom Pioneers and we have adopted Suntree Rotary Park on U.S. 1 in Melbourne, under the auspices of Keep Brevard Beautiful. We pick up trash at the park several times a year. What is it that fills our trash bags every single time ?? Cigarette butts — literally hundreds of them, in and around the picnic pavilions and yes, the playground as well. Never mind that there are receptacles nearby — smokers are a selfish bunch.

Rep. Scott Plakon should push HB 627 through his committee. It's time for children to "smell the roses" and not the smoke.

Judith E. Rohan, Melbourne Beach

Time for new blood in District 8?

I read with interest about many residents in this county speaking so highly of a candidate, Sanjay Patel, who is registered to run on the Democratic ticket for Rep. Bill Posey's seat. I also read the comments from one resident who has tried to communicate with Bill Posey but has been ignored.

Back in November, I wrote to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs about an issue affecting veterans nationwide. I never received an answer from his office or any communication.

So in December, I sent an email to Bill Posey at the address on his website, and included the letter to Secretary Shulkin. I thought I would hear back from my congressman but it never happened. I called his local office in Viera and they told me to call his Washington office. I did that. A young man said that I indeed had written to Congressman Posey and should have received a reply. He said he would get to the bottom of it, but as of February,I have no response from his office.

I have voted for Posey since he first ran and thought he was there for veterans, who make up a large Brevard population.

Perhaps the solution this time would be Mr. Patel, who has received great accolades from many Brevard residents and who is active in community activities.

Perhaps it is time for new blood to represent us. We got new blood to win the Super Bowl. And I think many people felt good about that.

Bruce Mochwart, Melbourne

Skip the parade and help vets

We agree with the letter writer who made the connection between climate change and an adverse impact on our economy. Also agree with the writer who showed how population growth and poor land use planning have made the consequences worse (Feb. 8 opinion page).

To us, taking action on climate change is just like buying insurance. You plan for the worst and hope for the best. President Trump has shown poor leadership on this so far.

Regarding Mr. Trump’s proposal to spend millions on a military parade, we hope people will vigorously oppose it. Our active military and veterans have many needs such as health care and equipment. What’s a parade going to do for them? The world already knows we are strong.

David and Eileen Pratt, Melbourne

'We are not a Christian nation'

So, here we are, in 2018, and here's President Trump addressing attendees of the National Prayer Breakfast, talking about Jesus and the Bible. Unbelievable.

Actually, I use the term unbelievable literally. The fact is that many Americans address their prayers to Allah or to Jehovah — or to God, as several of my Jewish friends do. Not to mention the "Nones." These are the Americans who may self-identify as atheists or agnostics. We are not a Christian nation. Our forefathers made that clear in our Constitution, did they not?

So let's allow those who pray to Jesus to do so, and allow those who pray differently or who don't pray at all to be Americans as well. America stands for freedom of religions well as freedom from religion. Do I hear an amen? (Just kidding …)